Princess Stella / Princezna stokrát jinak is one of those newer Czech fairy tales that does not rely only on beautiful costumes and magical settings, but also on an original idea of its own. Since the age of twelve, Princess Stella has been suffering from a strange curse - every day she wakes up in a different form. She has only one week left until her eighteenth birthday, and that is what makes the situation so urgent. If the curse is not broken in time, Stella will remain trapped forever in a face that is not truly her own.
The king, the queen, and the wisest men at court try everything they can and even hope that marriage might offer a solution. During a knightly tournament, a young man named Johan unexpectedly wins the princess’s hand. But it soon becomes clear that even marriage cannot break Stella’s curse. Johan does not leave her. Instead, he becomes the person Stella trusts most, and together they set out in search of a real cure. The fairy tale gradually turns into an adventure about trust, love, and believing in yourself. The film was directed by Miloslav Šmídmajer.
The central pair is played by Ema Klangová Businská as Stella and Filip Březina as Johan. The supporting cast also includes Tomáš Weber, Ján Koleník, Martin Stránský, Patricie Solaříková, Zuzana Fialová, Martin Myšička, and Martina Preissová, so the film also benefits from a strong and well chosen cast. 
One of the film’s strongest points is the idea of transformation itself. It is not used only as a visual trick, but gives the main heroine both vulnerability and inner strength. Because of that, the fairy tale works not only as a family adventure, but also as a story about searching for one’s own identity. The lively pace, playful humour, and attractive locations also help the longer running time pass surprisingly quickly. 
After the animated Proud Princess / Pysna princezna and the new Princess Goldenhair / Zlatovlaska, Princess Stella feels like another sign that Czech fairy tales have recently regained their ability to bring audiences stories with fresh ideas and real family appeal.
If you enjoy more modern Czech fairy tales that try to offer something of their own instead of following only familiar formulas, Princess Stella is definitely worth your attention. The film is available on DVD and Blu-ray, making it a lovely addition for fans of newer Czech fairy tales who would like to add this title to their home collection.
